Developer Diaries

Star Wars Battlefront IIDev Diary #2

A look at the vehicles in SWBII and how they'll balance out come release time.

When I think of Star Wars, I think of vehicles. I think of imposing AT-ATs, lightning-fast speeder bikes, and relentless X-wings. I think of new Episode III vehicles, like the tank droid, the V-wing, and the AT-RT. And for good measure, why don't we toss in some large space levels to host a vast array of starfighters that span the entire Star Wars saga, such as the ARC-170, A-wing, TIE interceptor, and droid tri-fighter.

I'm getting ahead of myself, though, so why don't we start at the beginning? My name is Dan Nanni, and I'm here to take you on a journey that will put you in the cockpit of some of the coolest vehicles found in the Star Wars universe.

Those of you familiar with the original Battlefront will probably remember the behemoths we called vehicles. You know, those vehicles that took two rocket-launcher units nearly their entire stash of rockets to destroy. The same vehicles that could stay alive long enough to see the fall of the Empire (or the Rebellion, depending on how you played it). We've learned our lesson, and we've made a few improvements that will make both ground units and vehicle pilots very happy.

Let's start with making the infantry players happy. Have you ever dreamed of destroying an AT-ST with one well-aimed shot? Getting hoisted on the shoulders of your comrades as they chanted your name, dubbing you the "Chicken Killer?" Well, guess what? You can't. BUT, you can do it in less than two hits thanks to our new critical hit locations! Most of our ground vehicles are equipped with shiny new critical systems that will allow various weapons to dish out massive damage. Keeping the AT-ST as my test subject, a skilled Rebel Vanguard (the Alliance's rocket launcher unit) can cause some serious trouble if they discover and target the AT-ST's critical hit location. With just one well-aimed rocket, they can potentially tear through 75 percent of the AT-ST's health! I did say that a skilled Vanguard could do this. Finding the critical systems on each vehicle is one task. Hitting them is another.

Now, before I introduce you to some new vehicle features, I'll bring up one last bit of infantry information: slicing. Slicing is hacking, and hacking is car-jacking. Pull out your fusion cutter and rip your enemy out of their own vehicle! Take 'em out, steal their AT-ST (this sounds awfully familiar to an Endor moment, doesn't it?) and use their own vehicle against them!

I can already see those of you who pilot vehicles frowning. Do not fret! First of all, you're still incredibly deadly against infantry units, if not more so now. Secondly, critical systems can work in your favor as well. If you catch an enemy vehicle off guard, and you have a clear shot, you're more than welcome to send them home packing. Unlike infantry units, several vehicle ordnance types have the ability to cause enough critical damage and destroy another vehicle in just one attack.